Witney News - Nexus Community and Greenwich Leisure Ltd merge

Nexus Community and Greenwich Leisure Ltd merge

Nexus Community who operate a range of West Oxfordshire’s leisure facilities, including four leisure centres, is set to merge with Greenwich Leisure Ltd (subject to final negotiations).

The merger will benefit both organisations, their council partners, customers and staff, by allowing for increased investment into capital projects, business expansion, and greater training and career opportunities for employees.

Nexus Community has been providing leisure services on behalf of West Oxfordshire District Council since 2001 and the current contract runs until 2016.

Cllr Hilary Biles, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Young People and Health said: “The Council is committed to providing first-class leisure facilities for everyone in West Oxfordshire and we believe the proposed merger of two major leisure service providers is good news for the district. Both organisations complement each other and their combined resources and expertise will give us opportunities to make improvements to our leisure services. It is a positive step forward.”

Nexus Community will become a trading division of GLL, primarily serving the Thames Corridor, and will continue to operate under its own brand and maintain its own head office. Jobs at both charitable organisations remain secure and at an operational level business will continue as usual.

GLL and Nexus have worked in partnership since 1996, most recently in South Oxfordshire where GLL has subcontracted the management of seven South Oxfordshire District Council leisure facilities to Nexus. The merger will see the new group operate more than 100 leisure centres across South East England.

Mark Sesnan, Managing Director of GLL said, "This merger offers a fantastic opportunity for both GLL and Nexus to take our businesses forward, share resources and build on our strengths. Having worked in partnership for a number of years, the similarities between the two organisations have become evident and the advantages of working together obvious".

Rick Durrant, Managing Director of Nexus added; "We are pleased to be able to further strengthen and formalise the positive and long-standing relationship we have enjoyed with GLL since our inception. The advantages of the merger will bring significant opportunities for our loyal staff and our local authority partners"